Having "Me" Time

I love Christmas, I love New Years.  I love this time of year when everyone is in a festive mood and everything is just fun fun and fun.  Organizing parties, get-to-gethers, and gift raffles.  This is the time of year when everyone "gives" to everyone else.  It's when we forget ourselves a little and think about those around us. During this time of year we celebrate family, love and friendships.   Shopping malls are packed with people and everything is packaged in gift sets.  There are always long lines of people in the days running up to Christmas and New Years as last minute shoppers come out to get that special gift.  Here are a few gift tips on finding the perfect gift for those who need a little inspiration.  Tip 1 :  Think of the person you are going to give the gift to.  What do they like? Do you remember them eyeing something at the store?  Remember, expensive doesn't always means its going to make that pe...

With all the festivites going on, Christmas and New Years is undoubtedly one of my favorite time of the year.  I get to meet friends, catch up over lovely meals accompanied by weather that is nice and cool in winter. It doesn't snow in Thailand, but the temperature drops to the mid-twenties (celsius).  It's lovely and cool.  Perfect.  And as one of my friends put on her facebook status it is the "perfect weather to get fat."  I think this perfectly describes how we all feel. A lot of activities during Christmas and New Years undeniably revolve around eating.  We meet, we eat.  We celebrate, we eat.  We travel, we eat. Then we sleep in between those "meets" and "eats."  Oh how easy it is to pack on those pounds that won't just go away.  Nevertheless, do not fear them...there is a way to overcome them and one tip is to Plan Your Meals . I used to never plan my meals.  I'd just eat what I felt like eating each meal a...

After two weeks roaming around Singapore I have to say I am happy to be home. Although I enjoy going around and exploring new places, trying out new dishes and meeting friends, nothing beats the warmth of being back home surrounded by family and loved ones.  Even if we don't meet everyday, somehow the thought of being in the same city is reassuring.  It's warm and I feel fortunate to have such a lovely family. It's funny when you look back on years past.  There was a time when I would want to go away for weeks on end and not miss a thing.  Life was fun and I was young.  Now, I can feel the years creeping up on me ever so quietly and I find myself saying "I miss home. I miss my family." "Home" for me has always been a funny thing.  I remember being asked on countless occasions what I considered "home" since I moved country every couple of years.  I wasn't really "Thai" becaused I hardly lived there and I was hardly a citizen of...

I feel like I haven't been to Singapore if I haven't had Bak Kut Teh .  What is it?  It's pork rib soup.  What I love about it is that the soup has lots of pepper and as a meal it is not too heavy.  We have this dish also in the southern provinces of Thailand and in Malaysia but I have yet to try the ones there.   I think there will be slight variations.  There are lots of places to have Bak Kut Teh in Singapore, but my newest discovery is called " Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha ."  It's a long name.  Don't ask me what it means.. On my previous visits I'd go to the one on Rangoon road, but this trip I wasn't able to so you can imagine my delight when my good friend Dalin told me that there was one not far from the hotel I was staying at.  We walked there and it was a mere 5 minutes walk away from the hotel and is located at the base of Tangong Pagar Complex.  Mind you, this is not the same as Tangong Pagar P...

Like in every country, food comes in many ways and forms.  There are always the "elegant" and high end restaurants which just give you an experience to remember and then there's the "local" kind of foods that most people eat on a day to day basis.  If you come to Singapore and want something "local"  you should try the food at the hawker centres.  These are food that the average Singaporean would eat and is not just for tourists.  During lunch times, these hawker centres are filled with working professionals. Here are some of the hawker centres I've been to whilst exploring Singapore this trip: 1) Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre :  This place is open 24 hours and has a long history dating from the 1800's as well a uniquely octagonol shape that is quite beautiful.  It was formerly known as the "Telok Ayer Market" and dates from the times of Sir Raffles, the founding father of Singapore.   There are roughly 80-100 sta...

When you go to the gym or fitness to workout there is a certain sense of  fashion at each one.  In some places in Bangkok, the norm is just an old t-shirt with a pair of shorts, anything goes.  In other gyms (which may cater to the more young and 'hip' professionals) the norm might include form fitting tops and matching bottoms especially designed for sports.  Those were the main differences I had observed in Bangkok.  In Singapore though, there is a much more colourful sense of style in fitness clothes. The mix of clients who come to the M-hotel in Singapore is diverse and multi-cultural.  Singapore is diverse and multi-cultural.  Everywhere I go I see a mix of expatriates from the western world, indians, chinese, and people from other countries.  However, I never expected that this cultural diversity would be apparent in the gym. I never knew before how muslim females dressed when they went to the gym to exercise.  T...

This trip I've been to Clarke Quay already three times and everytime it gives me a different vibe. It's strange this area by the Singapore River but I like it and am at the same time impressed by it. The first time I went there this trip was on a group tour to take the "Bumboat."  I've been to Singapore so many times but never took the bumboat and so I decided to join it this trip.  I enjoy being the tourist no matter how "touristy" it is and I especially enjoy anything to do with water and rivers.  It's so calming and relaxing.  We get there at around 9.30am and Clarke Quay resembles a deserted town.  All the shops and restaurants are shut and not a single soul is to be seen.  It's quiet.  This part of Singapore has not yet awakened.  Only after nearing the crossing roads do we spot a few people.  They are runners out for their morning jog. Healthy people. It's quite educational this trip.  I learn that this beautiful area wher...

On trips that bring you away from family and friends for a week or so things can get a little quiet (but that is significantly helped by the wonderful technology of Skype and sim cards.)  Of course, no technology can replace the warm feeling one gets when one is with close friends and I have to say that I feel especially fortunate to have such wonderful friends in Singapore who take great care of me.  From having the skinny pizza with Dalin, pepper and chilli crab with Mark, hot stones steak with my cousin to the wonderful steak house "Cut" with Rasina,  I have to say I am truly enjoying my stay in Singapore. Today I'll focus on "Cut" which some of you might be wondering what it is.  (No it's not a salon where you can go cut your hair, nor is it a nail spa.)  It's a steakhouse that was brought to Singapore along with the Marina Bay Sands and is by Chef Wolfgang Puck.  Reviews tell me me that in the USA his restauran...

When traveling, everyone always tries to buy goods that are cheaper than what they can get back home.  Being in Singapore, where a lot of people come to buy electronics I had to go check out the prices.  My mission was to find out if electronic products (especially the iPad) are cheaper here or in Bangkok. Singapore has a mall that specializes in electronics called Funan . It's easily accessible by MRT (undergound), just get off at City Hall and exit on North Ridge Road.  Funan is just down the street.  It's like Fortune and Panthip Plaza in Bangkok, but its more quiet and more orderly. There are a zillion shops selling laptops and computers.  I walk around and just enjoy browsing through all the gadgets and gizmos.  I always had a particular fondness for electronics and the techonology always fascinates me.  Its actually more fun than looking for clothes...  I check out the price of the ILuv clock radio for iPod and iPhone dual...

Most people who come to Singapore either Eat then Shop or Shop then Eat or if you are not a big fan of eating then you'd Shop.  Most girls I know who come here go crazy with all the shopping malls and variety of brands.  So today (and yesterday) I went round exploring the shopping scene in Singapore as well as to buy everything that's on my shopping list for friends and family.  I discovered some new malls and also a new route for which to shop. Route : Before Id 'always just get off at Orchard MRT for shopping at Orchard Road, but this trip I discovered Somerset MRT.  Somerset MRT actually gives you access to the East side of Orchard road which is awesome if you want to shop at Robinsons, Centre Point, 313@ Somerset before making your way to Paragon, Takashimaya, Wisma and  ION . What and Where: Robinsons is great if you want to buy Vitamins and other health related products.  They have a section in most Robinsons on the same floor ...

I don't gamble, but if there is something new that has to be seen then I'd go see it even if its a casino.  Singapore has just recently opened it's Marina Bay Sands  Hotel and the area has both Shops and a Casino.  Coming from Las Vegas, they brought the concept here and I must say I felt like I was no longer in the island country of Singapore.  Even the restaurants and the Casino come from Las Vegas.  The casino has 500 tables and 1500 slot machines. Imagine how big it is.  It is a mega gambling empire. After an extremely delicious meal of scrumptious steak at the newly opened restaurant called "Cut" (which I will write about tomorrow), my dear friend in Singapore took me to see the Casino from a bird's eye view.  We were standing on the third floor balcony overlooking the 500 tables.  The feeling is unlike any I've had before. Upon first seeing it you are just dazed and awed. It's all a gigantic space of curves and l...

When packing for my two week trip to Singapore I am always at a dilemma as to what to bring. I want to travel light so that I'd have space to bring my shopping and gifts back yet there are also a few essentials I think I should bring.  The list gets longer the older I'm getting.  For the first time now, I am actually now including running shoes and running clothes into my "list."  They are needed because I know that for two weeks I'd be doing a lot of eating and sitting.  Trips like these are always a danger to the waistliine.  And so, this trip I brought along all my running gear.  On Tuesday, I woke up early and got myself down to the gym by 7am.  I have to say I expected it to be empty.  We're in a hotel I thought.  Who would work out so early? Most people would be gettting ready to eat breakfast or go out to their meetings.  This was still my still chubby inner me at work. To my surprise, the little hotel gym was packed....

After a night here and a day full of activities and meeting people, I feel myself settling in and getting in pace for the next two weeks.  Being around the business district on weekends can be a bit quiet, almost isolated, but on weekdays there is a whole different energy. There are people walking around each going on their way, each with their own lives.  The energy then settles when we get to dinner time and everyone goes get something to fill their empty stomachs.   This past evening I got to reunite with a good old friend who lives here in Singapore and she introduced me to this new kind of pizza that is currently in trend in Singapore. It's called " Skinny pizza ." Now I've never heard anything about it, but it sounded delicious. Anything with "pizza" sounds good to me but I have to beware of the cheese that comes with it.  My friend tells me that its pizza made of extremely thin crust topped with vegetables and other toppings of ...

Yes, I'm traveling again.  This time though is not to the incredible pyramids of Egypt or the fish market in Japan.  I'm in Singapore, the Merlion City where much happens in this tiny island of only 274 sq miles (710 sq km).  It's small yet there is diversity and it is ever changing.  The last time I was here was over three years ago and since then much has changed.  On my way from the airport I saw many new  buildings.  I see construction going on in small roads and corners.  It is a city that is continuing to evolve and develop.  No wonder it is one of the region's financial centres and has one of the busiest ports in the world. Whenever I come to Singapore, two things (not including work) always pop into mind:  Shopping and Eating.  Shopping here for certain goods are cheaper than in Bangkok.  Foodwise, I just love certain dishes that cannot be had in the same way in Thailand.  One of those dishes is the Hai...

The last day of the week has arrived and is almost ending for people in Asia.  On the other side of the world, Europe is still midway through and the US is just awakening.  It's snowing hard in Europe and the US.  People are waking up to a winter wonderland and trudging through the snow to get to work.  Roads are blocked.  It's a nightmare for those who have business to attend to, but for children snow is fun.  Snow is about snowball fights and snow angels.  Snow is when we get to put on those ear muffs and fluffy coats.  I like snow.  It reminds me of the little pleasures and especially of a little incident involving my dog Dyzio and the 'snow'.  It happened when we were living in Warsaw, Poland and Dyzio was but a small puppy almost a year old.  He was an Aquarius, born in January when it was cold outside but of course he had been kept indoors being about the size of my palm.  He was my baby and I o...

With the holiday season knocking at the door, it is always a challenge to keep fit and healthy.  To maintain one's weight during the year is not so easy for most of us, let alone maintaining one's weight during the holiday season! All that turkey and holiday parties are extremely deterimental to one's waistline. So today I want to share with you a little secret on how to stay active and burn away a little of that holiday eating.  I realized this was something I had only begun doing recently since I began my weightloss journey over a year ago.  Now it has become a part of my routine.  What do I do?  It's easy.  I eat first then I shop. Didn't I say it was easy?  Now the important part is implementing it.  Before in my much much chubbier days, which I am happy to say is now behind me,  I didn't give a slight thought as to what I'll eat and when I'll eat it.  I'll eat when I'm hungry and t...

The festive season has begun and with it comes the time for gatherings and reunions.  Although we don't have the whole Christmas feel in Bangkok just yet it is coming.  I start to hear Christmas songs and the shops are all changing their displays.  Now all we need is abit of snow in Bangkok.   So with all these festivities going on, it is of course the time to go out and meet friends.  Friends you haven't met in a long time, friends who are back on a visit and friends who just want to hang out and have a good time.  Last weekend I went to meet some good old friends whom I've known ever since I can remember.  We went to this new restaurant called " The Anna Restaurant and Art Gallery." It's a cute restaurant and one that is simple in its furnishings yet pleasing to the eye.   It's housed in a relatively large compound of an old styled Thai wooden house whose interiros...

I love lazy Sundays.  I love it especially when the weather is not so warm outside and there are Christmas songs playing wherever you go.  I love the feeling of not having to rush anywhere or having to be at a certain place in time for an appointment.  What better day then than to go explore a new restaurant and find something good to fill our stomachs?   Today, Alex and I went to a new ramen place recommended by my brother.   Thank you.  The ramen was absolutely delicious.  It's name is easy to remember.  It's called Ra-men Restaurant.   What do they serve? Ramen. The ramen I have to say was one of the best ramens I've had in Bangkok so far.  Chabuton was good but slightly too salty for my taste.  Ramentei is delicious, but the ramen at Ra-men restaurant was good. Very good.  The soup wasn't salty and the noodles the right consistency.   I had "Hiyashi" which is the cold ramen noodle t...

Happy Thanksgiving! :)  Today, most families in the US will probably have Turkey for dinner together with family and friends.  The start of the festive season, it also marks the end of yet another busy year full of developments and happenings.   What better day to mark the end of my posts on Egypt.  Today, I end my journey to Egypt with the final resting place for most of Egypt's great treasures: The Egyptian Museum. After thousands of years of history, the final resting place for most of the Egyptian treasures is not located in the Valley of the Kings, nor inside Great Pyramids.  Instead, their final resting place is inside the Egyptian Museum or somewhere in a box in its basement.  First opened in 1863 my guidebook tells me that the museum had to move twice before settling at its current building in which it has been housed since 1902.  Even then, it is still not large enough to accomodate all ...

After digressing from my travels to my micro marathon, today I write about an activity almost every girl cannot resist: shopping.  This time though, it's about shopping in Cairo.  If you are anything like me, whenever I travel abroad I always want to take a piece of it back with me for "memories" sake.   So where do people go to shop in Cairo?  You go to the Khan al-Khalili Bazaar which also happens to be one of the oldest and biggest bazaars in the middle east. This bazaar is not only a place for tourists to go shopping, but it is itself a great place to get lost in and discover a part of ancient life in Egypt.  Since 1382, this had been a place where merchants from afar came to sell their goods, have coffee, smoke a sheesha and perhaps spend a night in one of the travel lodges.  It's filled with small alleyways and crammed with shops selling anything they can. As you walk by, merchants call out to grab your attention in a number of inte...

It's a day after the run, and although I only did 5K somehow my legs are still sore.  It must have been the way I "tiptoe" run or perhaps I'm just not used to so much running.  Funny though, even with sore legs,  the exhiliration from the run still lingers on.  I'm still very much stress free and happy.   I ran not for someone else but rather for myself.  It's something one does to challenge oneself.  When I signed up for 5K, I knew it wasn't much at all if you talk to a "real" runner, but for me who a year ago was still 15kgs (32lbs) heavier it was quite something.  I had started running to lose weight.  Prior to that, the last time I remember running was during my childhood days.   I had forgotten how it was to run and be "active."  So used was I to sitting in my office chair for 10 hours on end staring at the computer screen.  I had derived comfort from sitting, eating, and websurfing....

An event I had been looking forward to with much anticipation finally arrived today: The Bangkok Marathon.  The last time I ran (well walked most of it) was two years ago when I was still very chubby and very unfit.  This year, I registered for the 5K and being fitter I wanted to see how I would do. I wanted to see how actually running most of the 5K would turn out to be like.  It was also a fun event that Alex and I could both do together. The day started out early.  The 5K runners or what they call "micro-marathon" were to start running at 6.20am and due to the massive amount of people, I wanted to get there early.  Roads had been blocked around the beautiful historic area of Bangkok since early morning when the marathoners started out on their 4 hour long run.  Maybe one day I'll be crazy enough to do it, but for now I am happy with 5K.  There is a certain feeling of anticipation and unexplicable fun that comes with participating in su...